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. 2024 Feb 12;5(Suppl 1):601.
doi: 10.55275/JPOSNA-2023-601. eCollection 2023 Feb 15.

Making the Case for Diversity

Julie Balch Samora  1
Affiliations

Making the Case for Diversity

Julie Balch Samora. J Pediatr Soc North Am. .

Abstract

Orthopaedic surgery lags behind all other medical specialties in its representation of women and underrepresented minorities. Diversity in medical training enhances the educational experience, improves cultural sensitivity, promotes professionalism, and increases the number of physicians who will provide care to the underserved. Diversity of the healthcare workforce leads to enhanced communication, greater patient satisfaction, improved care, better outcomes, and fewer healthcare disparities. Although pediatric orthopaedic surgery has demonstrated recent increases in diversity in the field, there remain opportunities to create a workforce that better reflects our patient population. Key Concepts•We remain a homogeneous specialty.•Diversity of teams and organizations has multiple benefits.•Diversity in healthcare enhances education, patient care, and outcomes while decreasing disparities.•It is imperative to maintain a physician workforce that better reflects the U.S. population.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Second annual meeting of the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society, precursor to POSNA, with a homogenous group of surgeons in 1972.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Enhanced diversity of POSNA 2021 board of directors.
Figure 3
Figure 3
(A) Drs. Emily Dodwell, Kali Tileston, Christen Russo, Julie Samora, and Corinna Franklin sharing camaraderie at a POSNA event. (B) “Bathroom selfie” representing dozens of women at IPOS® 2021. (C) POSNA 2021 annual meeting tennis outing in Dallas with a diverse group of surgeons.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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